After hours of testing, and what appeared to be an endless number of swipes, the research team had their answer. Drumroll, please! The average tube of lipstick provides 293 swipes. Now, if you applied lipstick three times a day, every day of the week, a single tube of lipstick will last you about three months.
Products like foundation, primer, blush, and eyeshadow can last for up to two years. Lipstick is typically good for one year after you've opened it.
When to toss
Lipstick doesn't hold much bacteria, so it can last between 12 – 18 months. Although lipstick and gloss are packed with preservatives such as parabens, essential oils and vitamins to ward off germs, these naturally start to break down after a year.
The wrong color may spoil your mood, but the risk of a lipstick or lip-gloss formula spoiling (or growing bacteria) is low since they don't contain water, says Hammer. But since they're repeatedly exposed to the mouth area, he suggests replacing lip products after a year — or if you've recently been sick.
Lip gloss and lipsticks should be replaced every six months, says Linkner, especially if you're prone to perleche—cracking, crusting, or irritation in the corners of the mouth caused by bacteria or fungus. “The lip makeup can harbor those microorganisms and reinfect the skin if you're not careful,” she cautions.
Patel recommends that lipsticks should be thrown out around the eight-month mark and recommends tossing lip products even sooner if they come into contact with any type of cold sore or other lip infection. Toss out opened foundations, concealers and powders if they're more than a year old.
You should throw away your makeup if it expires, but if you use it a little bit past its expiration, you may be fine health-wise but notice it doesn't perform to its best. Products like lip liner or eyeliner pencils may have a longer expiration because they can be sharpened.
As lipstick goes bad, the odor changes, often becoming unpleasant. It may smell like potato starch or wax, but it might also smell rancid from the oils in the product. Do a sniff test to make sure your lipstick still smells like it did when you opened it. Once a lipstick starts to stink, just throw it away.
This phenomenon is known as lipstick sweat, and it occurs more often than you may think. Beads of sweat occur when your lipstick is exposed to fluctuating temperatures that cause the oils in the lipstick to rise to the surface.
Yes, of course! It's completely safe to wear lipstick every day, however, ensure that you get a good quality lipstick and take good care of your lips. Apply a lip balm before applying your lipstick. Remember to remove your lipstick before sleeping and keep them hydrated.
Using the weight test (and assuming that a 'normal' person applies lipstick three times a day, as suggested by Birchbox), you would expect a 3.8g lipstick to last around five months if you used it each day.
While matte lipstick is meant to be long lasting, many formulas can leave your lips dry or have color that disappears too quickly. MAC Cosmetics claims their velvety-smooth Matte Lipstick will last for up to 10 hours.
Yes, it's possible for viruses to live on lip products, Canadian microbiologist Jason Tetro says, but it's not necessary to throw away your lipstick or lip balm every time.
Powder products, if stored properly and free from moisture, are good for up to two years. Lipstick is good for one to two years, and lip gloss can be used for six months to 1 year.
When stored under optimal conditions, unopened lipstick can last a long time. Optimal conditions entail a cool area free of sunlight and high temperatures. The refrigerator is a perfect place. As a rule, makeup experts recommend tossing used lipstick and glosses after one to two years.
Generally, experts agree that using eyeshadow that is slightly past its expiration date shouldn't case you too many issues. However, it isn't recommended, and you shouldn't use eyeshadow that you know is well past its expriation date.
Many perfumes don't have a set expiry date and can last anywhere between 1-10 years. However, three to five years is often the average shelf life of a fragrance and most of Shay & Blue's fragrances will still perform for the length of time. According to experts, perfumes with heavier base notes will last the longest.
For any lip product, we recommend using it for only a year after it's been opened. Expired chapstick can have bacteria and fungus, which can cause skin issues and irritation, especially if your skin is sensitive.
How long does makeup last? As a guideline: Foundation, primer, blush and eyeshadow may last up to 2 years. Lipstick should last for one year after it is opened. Eye makeup such as mascara and eyeliner would need to be replaced every three months.
Note: Expiration dates only apply to cosmetics that have been opened and exposed to air. Those still in their packaging and closed are protected from contaminants that may be harmful to the user over time. This means that unopened cosmetics may still be fine to use 5+ years after buying them!
You can get free beauty products after returning empty MAC Cosmetics containers to the company. To participate in the company's Back 2 MAC program, shoppers must return six empty MAC Cosmetics containers to their local store or cosmetics counter. In doing so, they'll receive a free, nonrefundable lipstick.
Storing your lipstick in the fridge will help them last longer and will prevent them from melting. Also, intense heat can cause the chemicals in your lipstick to break down over time and this can alter the shade.